North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing by armored train, making his first visit to China since 2019. The trip was arranged for him to attend a major military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Traveling with him were senior North Korean officials as well as his young daughter, who has increasingly been seen at state functions and is regarded by South Korea’s intelligence services as a potential successor. Her inclusion was noted by analysts as a deliberate message about continuity of power within the Kim dynasty.
The visit carried both symbolic and practical weight. It gave Kim a prominent platform at a time when his country remains under international sanctions and heavily isolated diplomatically. The appearance in Beijing also signaled his determination to deepen ties with China and Russia, two partners that provide him with critical political backing and a means of countering U.S.-led pressure. For Beijing, hosting the North Korean leader alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin reinforced an image of solidarity among countries opposing Western influence in global affairs.
Parade And Public Display Of Power
The military parade took place on the wide expanse of Tian’anmen Square, one of the most historically charged sites in China’s capital. Standing together were Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, a grouping intended to convey unity. Xi, dressed in a dark Mao-style suit, reviewed the troops from an open-top limousine as thousands of soldiers marched past in tight formations. The parade included demonstrations of hypersonic missiles, stealth fighters, intercontinental ballistic missiles, unmanned underwater drones, and other advanced systems, reflecting China’s ongoing investment in modernizing its armed forces.
State media described the event as the largest parade China has ever held, with participation from more than two dozen countries. Leaders and delegations from several Asian, African, and Middle Eastern nations attended, though most Western governments declined to send representatives. The absence of the United States, Japan, and European leaders underscored the political divide over China’s ambitions and its growing partnerships with Moscow and Pyongyang.
In his speech, Xi declared that the world faced a choice between “peace or war.” He emphasized China’s readiness to safeguard stability while invoking the nation’s sacrifices in past conflicts. Observers interpreted his remarks as a pointed warning directed at Washington and its allies, highlighting Beijing’s desire to be seen as a central actor in shaping future international order. The imagery of Xi speaking with Putin and Kim at his side amplified that message of strategic defiance.
Strategic Implications And Alliances
Kim’s participation in the parade underlined North Korea’s strategy of aligning more closely with China and Russia. In June 2024, Pyongyang and Moscow signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a pact that includes mutual security commitments and came into force in December 2024. According to South Korean and U.S. intelligence assessments, North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. The deal has also opened the door for Russia to provide North Korea with much-needed fuel, food supplies, and advanced military technology.
For Russia, the presence of Putin in Beijing was equally significant. Since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, Moscow has faced unprecedented sanctions and widespread isolation from Western capitals. Strengthening ties with China and North Korea helps Moscow offset these pressures and signals to domestic audiences that Russia is not without powerful allies. The Beijing parade thus served as a public stage for Putin to demonstrate that his country remains engaged in global affairs despite economic constraints and battlefield difficulties.
China, meanwhile, positioned itself as the host and orchestrator of this symbolic convergence. By bringing together leaders of countries widely regarded as pariahs in Western discourse, Beijing presented itself as the center of a possible alternative bloc. Analysts have referred to such emerging ties as the CRINK coalition—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—nations cooperating in ways that challenge U.S.-led structures of power. The parade was therefore more than a commemoration of the past; it was also an effort to project a future vision of a multipolar world with Beijing as a leading hub.
Security And Symbolism Without Conclusion
The imagery of Xi, Putin, and Kim sharing the stage underscored the degree to which their governments are drawing closer together. Their cooperation is rooted not only in shared history but also in shared interests: resisting sanctions, countering Western alliances, and expanding their own regional and global influence. For North Korea, the alignment offers security guarantees and material assistance. For Russia, it provides diplomatic legitimacy and support at a time of war. For China, it reinforces its narrative of resurgence and positions it as a leader among non-Western powers.
Although the parade officially commemorated the Allied victory in World War II, the carefully staged spectacle carried unmistakable messages for the present. It highlighted China’s rapid military modernization, its willingness to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Moscow and Pyongyang, and its ambition to shape the geopolitical balance in Asia and beyond. The event’s symbolism—three leaders whose countries are often in confrontation with the West appearing united—will resonate well beyond Beijing’s ceremonial boulevards.